Learning English from the age of 3 is possible and useful!
Posted by Equipe Tikino on
According to the latest EF study, the French are still lagging behind in English (26th out of 35 in Europe) 🤨
While there are several factors that can explain this delay, at Tikino we are convinced that one of the keys to improving the situation is the introduction of the language at a young age.
Beyond linguistic mastery in itself, learning a second language plays a major role in cognitive development and abstraction and conceptualization abilities. It also opens the mind to other cultures. In addition, with Tikino you can make this activity a moment of sharing with your family!
So? Shall we get started?
Why learn English from a young age?
- To develop cognitive abilities
One of the major benefits of learning English early is increased brain development in children. Studies have shown that learning a foreign language from a young age can have a positive impact on the development of areas of the brain related to language, memory, and problem solving.
- Because it's easier
Since brain plasticity is very important in the youngest years, the acquisition of language skills is facilitated. The latest studies show that the "pivotal" age after which it is significantly more difficult to reach a bilingual level in a language is 10 years.
Learning English early can also lay a solid foundation for learning other foreign languages later in life. By developing familiarity with different sounds, grammatical structures and vocabulary, learning new languages will be more natural and effective.
- To broaden one's horizons
Learning English from a young age also exposes children to other cultures and ways of life. Exposure to other languages allows children to appreciate cultural diversity and prepares them to live and work in an increasingly globalized world.
Ideas for activities to learn English according to the child's age
- 3-5 years: Games and nursery rhymes 🎶
For children aged 3 to 5, learning English should be fun and interactive. It is more about familiarisation than learning at this stage. Games and songs are fantastic tools for teaching the basics of the language. For example: playing memory games with cards with pictures of objects and colours in English, or singing simple songs with gestures to learn body parts, colours and numbers.
- 6-8 years old: Stories and books in English 📖
At this age, children are ready to explore more advanced language concepts. English stories are an effective and engaging way to improve vocabulary and grammar understanding. Encourage them to read simple books in English and watch videos that are appropriate for their vocabulary level. Have fun reenacting scenes from their favorite stories to consolidate vocabulary and practice speaking.
- 9 years and up: Discussions and interactions 🗣️
For older children, introduce conversational activities with other English-speaking children or a teacher for example. This gives children the opportunity to apply their language skills in real-life situations, improve their pronunciation and gain confidence in their ability to communicate in English.
Learn English with Tikino
- For the little ones: discover Toupie's nursery rhymes in song
3 nursery rhymes in English are available in Les Comptines de Toupie , a good way to familiarize little ears with the language and its music.
- To start: I learn English with Cat and Mouse (from 3 years old)
A series to discover your first words and then gradually enrich your vocabulary. 4 packs of 2 episodes are offered with a progressive level of difficulty. Offered in partnership with the youth publisher ABC Mélody specializing in languages, it is Tikino who produces the audiovisual version of this content.
The episodes are based on rhythmic and repetitive structures to promote memorization and an interactive sequence allows the child to repeat the words if he wishes. No doubt that he will quickly become attached to this friendly Cat and Mouse duo.
- To discover new cultures: Hello Kids (from 5 years old)
With Hello Kids we enrich our vocabulary but above all we travel the world to discover the lifestyle of other children. In the first two episodes available we discover London with Charlie and New York with Lily.
- Stories to travel
For older children, two slightly longer short films are available in English: The King of the Cloud Forest and Catfish Blues.
With our partner Vooks we also offer 3 stories for which the text is displayed as it is read, a good way to consolidate your listening comprehension and approach writing.
All our content in English can be found in our catalog 👉 https://tikino.fr/collections/catalogue-contenus/anglais
Conclusion
Early learning of English can be a valuable educational investment. To maximize this learning, adapt activities according to the child's age and don't hesitate to share this with him.
